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Sunday, May 21, 2000

Ethnic Fijians declare their support of rebels

Groups pledge that civil war will break out if government attempts rescue of parliament hostages

By Rohan Sullivan
Associated Press

SUVA, Fiji - Two influential ethnic Fijian groups pledged their support today for rebels holding the South Pacific nation's ethnic Indian prime minister and members of his Cabinet hostage in parliament.
   Ratu Tevita Bolobolo, leader of the Taukei movement of ethnic Fijians, read a statement that was also endorsed by the main opposition party, known as SVT.
   "We do not and we will never accept the reinstatement of the Chaudhry government," Bolobolo said, referring to Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
   "We hereby state that we fully support the abolition of the 1997 constitution and warn (Fijian President) Ratu Mara that any intervention by force will lead to all out civil war.
   The statement was the first major sign of support for rebel leader and self-appointed new Prime Minister George Speight who launched an armed coup Friday, saying he represented all ethnic Fijians.
   Combined, the Taukei movement and SVP party command strong support among ethnic Fijians who make up 51 percent of the national population of 813,000.
   For months, ethnic tensions have been building between indigenous Fijians and the descendants of Indian migrants, who dominate commerce in Fiji, which lies 2,250 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia.
   Indians make up about 44 percent of Fiji's population of 813,000 while indigenous Fijians account for 51 percent.
   Earlier Sunday, the rebels released 10 hostages after they signed documents backing the coup leader, local radio reported.
   Chaudhry, who was not one of those released, earlier collapsed inside the Parliament House complex.
   Local media reported that Chaudhry's collapse was stress-related.
   Most of the members of Chaudhry's coalition government who were released early today were indigenous Fijians, local radio reported.
   Speight said he had appointed a new president using executive powers assumed in the coup.
   Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka - himself the leader of two coups in 1987 - is acting as chief negotiator between the rebels and Mara and he returned to parliament early today.
  

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